My practice spans traditional and digital techniques, exploring various processes, themes and materials. From a very young age, my love for classical art forms led me to explore portraiture rather than more recent subjects in contemporary art.
Following an initial interest in realism, my works gradually acquired a more illustrative tone, influenced by the world of comics and anime, and moved to the digital plane. I often combine representational and abstract imagery: the aim is to give a physical body to the explored concept. In the case of the seven deadly sins in the form of animal silhouettes, abstract patterns are embedded to give the whole picture a mystical atmosphere.
I have also experimented with digital printing resulting from collages of multiple images made with acrylics and camera-less techniques edited digitally to create a new composition. An example of this is the depiction of outer space merged with natural elements, such as wood, water, and fire.
Lately my practice has shifted towards the representation of male beauty and homoeroticism. For this project I played with different processes within the umbrella of oil painting. I also make abstract sculptures, requiring the use of woodworking machinery and a laser cutter. Some of my past 3D pieces are representational, and were made with clay.
My continuous pursuit of learning new techniques, inspired by different themes, artistic currents and contexts, is gradually enriching my experience. My aim is to be able to create mixed media pieces by using increasingly complex and diversified processes.
My third year project for the core module revolves around the theme of male beauty. My primary focus could be summarised in four key words: (Neo)Classicism, Queer Gaze, Iliad, Phobias.
Drawing inspiration from stories of Ancient Greek mythology I visually reinterpreted characters within a queer frame work, highlighting the modernity of some concepts of psychology and sexuality that can showcase their relatability and vulnerability. Particular attention was paid to the main characters of Homer’s Iliad under the lens of male gaze, androgyny, symmetry and balance, homophobia, trypophobia, nyctophobia.
All of these could be considered as different aspects of my personal life.